If your habitat sparkles, congratulations! You’re doing something right. If it doesn’t light up with insects twinkling their way through the night, read on to learn how to welcome firefly friends. The common Eastern firefly, also known as the Big Dipper, starts displaying at dusk. (Above photo: Nancy Lawson; featured image, top: Terry Priest/frfly.com)

Soon the Big Dipper fireflies will start writing their love letters across our back meadow, lighting up the tall grasses with their scrawling J-...